What was most likely responsible for my dogs death?

[Dsdolle]

My 12 year old female shetland sheepdog passed away just recently. I am still very shocked about the loss. One thing I'd like to understand though is what may have caused her death.

Her symptoms before involved a dry cough, gagging (acting like throwing up but nothing coming out), and heavy panting/restless behavior at night. These symptoms continued for a couple weeks before her death. We took her to the vet to see what was wrong, but all they told us is that she was old and she could have had heart problems/cancer.

Right before she passed away she actually seemed normal at first, she was eating and walking around ( but panting). I tried to calm her down to stop her panting but to no avail. She started to foam at the mouth and she was losing her balance. I then became worried and was getting ready to go to the emergency vet nearby, but I was too late. I saw her rest her head and close her eyes to take her last breath.

could it have been heart failure? Would I have been able to save her?

She was an old dog. She had a good life and offered me many memories. I just hope she went peacefully and that she is in a better place.

Thank you for your time.

[ordinaryman]

A lot of senior dogs develop heart conditions as they age, as you said about the "dry cough, gagging (acting like throwing up but nothing coming out), and heavy panting/restless behaviour at night" are all symptoms of heart failure.

Couldn't say what is exactly whats wrong with the heart, it could have fluid around the pericardium (the sack around the heart) lots of small breed dogs develop mitral Valve Disease, this is where the valve leaflets of the heart don't seal because of wear and tear, large breeds like your Sheepdog have problems with dilated cardiomyopathy where the heart muscle becomes enlarged and out of shape, and unable to function.

I hope this eases your mind?

Best reagards

[specialmom]

You seem very knowledgeable! Thanks for sharing!!  Hope you come back to help us here on the MedHelp Dogs forum!

[ginger899]

I totally agree with lindapalm!
I am absolutely HORRIFIED to hear that a vet would say about your 12year old dog "that she is old and may have heart problems or cancer"
That is not good enough.
He might have been rght. But still, without testing no-one could say what was wrong with her, and the "age-ist" views of some vets I look on as stupid and a form of laziness.
In my opinion most dogs are NOT "old" at age 12...not old enough to be written off anyway. They are senior dogs, yes, and they can be sick dogs. But not just an old dog that has to be given up on.

I ca't tell you exactly what was wrong of course. I don't know. And all the tests could have stressed her, and cost you a heck of a lot of money, maybe for you to discover she DID have the late stages of a terminal illness. It is possible -for example -that she had cancer of the Spleen or liver.

I am so sorry. It's a dreadful loss. Hold on to the good memories you had of her, I am sure there are hundreds.

[lindapalm]

I don't know what your dog suffered from, but I think you need a new vet.  His answer to your problem was terrible, he should have run tests to se if there was anything wrong.  We had a Sheltie, too, they are such smart dogs, aren't they?  Sometimes too smart, you'd swear they were reading your mind.  I'm sorry about your dog.